A Leeds man has been terrorised by drug dealers living in his neighbourhood and is calling for them to be removed.
Steve, who did not want his last name published, has hit out claiming the number of drug dens in Chapeltown is growing. He’s claimed the homeowners, who are the “biggest players in Leeds” have been telling their tenants to torment him so that he moves away.
Steve, born and bred in Chapeltown said: “There are drug houses, they start hostilities and hate crime. I’ve been trying to remove them. Before they came, it was okay.
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“This is what I’m up against. They’re the biggest players in Leeds. They’ve told their tenants to terrorise me so that I move. I won’t move! I’m not going to succumb to what other people want.”
Steve, in his 60s, says he has reported the houses several times but to no avail.
The father-of-five is a self-proclaimed ‘Israelite’, a belief system that takes on the practices of both Christianity and Judaism. He is a devout follower, with the firm belief he is descended from the ancient Israelites. He follows a strict code of his faith and does not like drug dealers operating in his neighbourhood. He wishes they would "see the light" and not sin.
Steve sticks out in his neighbourhood due to the clothing he wears and has fashioned to follow the ancient-Israelite customs, passed down in the bible. He wears all blue clothes to show his support, which he has stitched on tassels – similar to Jewish tzitzit and covers his head. He described himself as a proud Israelite, despite never having visited Israel as he “can’t afford” the flight.
Steve explained the Bible says to keep the Sabbath holy, with followers meant to avoid arguments and not be distracted from their faith. He said: "I stay inside, I don’t go out, I don’t argue, you’re not supposed to argue with anybody, you’re supposed to be friendly.
“I’ve got to stay in. If I go outside and people start arguing with me and I get in a confrontation, that’s against God.”
West Yorkshire Police has been asked for a comment.
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